Emergency Preparedness Support Officer; Armed Forces

This post is open to Armed Forces Community Applicants only and is a Fixed Term position until 31st March 2027. As per the Fixed Term Contacts Policy, individuals with continuous service within the NHS applying for fixed-term contract roles may be refused any appointment.

Public Health Scotland launched 1st April 2020 as a national health board, employing around 1200 people, and with an annual budget of around £101 million. Public Health Scotland wants to see a Scotland where everybody thrives, a Scotland where life expectancy improves and the difference in life expectancy between our poorest and wealthiest areas gets smaller.

Public Health Scotland, through the Clinical and Protecting Health Directorate, is seeking to appoint Emergency Preparedness Support Officers (two posts) within the Emergency Preparedness, Resilience and Response (EPRR) team. This is an opportunity to contribute and support the development and delivery of emergency preparedness, resilience and response activities within and across a range of teams and disciplines in PHS, helping to protect the population of Scotland.

Activities include service planning, training and exercising, resilience, incident response and the development and implementation of policies, protocols, procedures and guidelines for emergency preparedness.

The successful candidate must be a member of the Armed Forces Community (i.e. a veteran, service leaver or a member of their family including spouse, partner or dependent). You must be educated to HNC/HND level or have significant relevant experience in project management, office management or a senior secretarial role. You will employ specialist knowledge and project management skills in the development and delivery of emergency preparedness and response strategies in PHS and partner organisations.

As a member of the EPRR team, the post holder will provide support in the management and coordination of the PHS national response to incidents and emergencies. You will work collaboratively within Public Health Scotland and with partners including NHS Boards, Local Authorities, Scottish Government and other UK National public health agencies.

The post is based in either Gyle Square, Edinburgh or Bothwell Street, Glasgow. We are currently hybrid working; therefore, you will be expected to spend time in both PHS offices as well as the option to work  work pattern is Monday to Friday, 36 hours per week. PHS is a flexible employer, and we are happy to discuss requests for alternative working patterns.

During times of public health emergency or other urgent business need, you may be required on a temporary basis to work your normal contracted working hours over 7 days including weekends, in order to meet the needs of the service. It is a condition of this employment that you must live and remain a resident within the UK for the post in which you will be employed with PHS.

Our benefits package includes a pension scheme, comprehensive range of work‑life balance policies, occupational health services, learning resource centres and discounted leisure, financial and shopping benefits.

Public Health Scotland (PHS) is a national NHS board committed to being a diverse, inclusive and welcoming employer. We support a range of flexible working options to help colleagues balance work and personal responsibilities. As an Established Carer Positive employer, we are committed to supporting staff with caring responsibilities and fostering a flexible, understanding workplace culture. We offer a wide range of learning and development opportunities to support colleagues to grow and thrive.

Staff are also welcome to join our active equality networks. As an equal opportunities and Disability Confident Employer
, we aim to guarantee an interview to disabled applicants who meet the minimum shortlisting criteria, and we are committed to providing an accessible and inclusive recruitment experience. PHS is working towards becoming a trauma-informed organisation and recognises that trauma may affect people in different ways, including during the recruitment process. If you need reasonable adjustments or support, please contact the Recruitment Team on nss.wfrst.

For further information and informal discussion please contact Stuart Allan, Emergency Preparedness Manager ant, or Brian Paris, Service Manager ist.

Further information on PHS is available from:(Use the "Apply for this Job" box below)..

We are an equal opportunities employer and as committed participant in the disability confident scheme, guarantees to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for our vacancies; however, where exceptionally high application volumes make this impracticable, a fair and proportionate shortlisting approach will be applied in line with Disability Confident guidance.